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Message: <blockquote data-quote="megamania" data-source="post: 3688281" data-attributes="member: 9255">JOHN PLAY:  PLAY HARDSEGMENT 002“Gnolls in the Dark”The Dark Lantern successfully sneaks up to the preset area the gnolls were said to be planning to meet.  Normally he would not have paid the extra 10 gold pieces to Jasper but he mentioned Venom.  Venom has been very quiet and everyone at the Citadel was expecting trouble as such.  If he were the one to discover and stop it first…..As he reached the stairway below the Chandler Warehouse where Jasper said the gnolls were meeting.  The area was a long and exposed hallway.  It would prove to be difficult to get close enough to listen in on the Gnolls.  Several steps would need to be taken to pull this off.  First, he drinks the potion he keeps for dealing with this very condition- Potion of Comprehend Language.  The Gnolls had a terrible way of speaking their own language instead of common or at least something he knew.  Next, he withdrew the potion of Spider Climb.  The experience of drinking the language potion was always pleasant… especially so far underground.  It always opened up his ears releasing any built up pressure including water or elevation.  Spider Climb was… not so nice.  It always left him dry mouthed as if he had swallowed some spider webs by accident.  If he thought of it he may had drank the magical climbing potion first to wash away the taste with the second potion but he needed the ability to stay hidden more.  Even as he began to scale the damp walls he willed his glamored leather armor to become a dusty ashen black to reduce glare.  Most creatures here have Dark Vision but not all.Now crawling along the ceiling between hidden small aqueducts that more rats used than running water, John Play the Breland Dark Lantern positioned himself by the marking he could just see carved on the floor below.Fifteen minutes later there is the sound of a growl and then a snarl.  Four tall and gaunt shaggy gnolls walk up to the symbol.“This is the mark.   We wait now.” The large female commands the other three.“How long do we wait?” one mistakenly answers.The bitch growls a low and menacing growl at him.  “As long as it takes.  Through this one we can reach fame within our pack and maybe even join the Venom pack.”Growing tired and slightly concerned his potions will wear out; Play tries to find a few handholds.  He just hopes the rats are now active.Then come the sounds of toenails on the rock tiles that made up this section of the Undersharn catacombs.  His dark vision goggles rob John of color but he sees a large gnoll approach them.  It wears superior armor to the first pack of dogmen.  It looks around and past the pack that follow her gaze.“I have already spoken to your pack leader and an agreement has been reached.  During the coming hunt the hunters become the hunted.  Nobles and royalty alike will begin as hunters and die as the hunted.  It begins with the “official” hunting grounds were we will set up a mock attack incase of any breach of our secrecy.  But, the main party will be waiting for where the humans will be really hunting.”Not watching anything but the five gnolls below him, John Play misses that some fresh water has been flushed down the tiny aqueduct.  He notices it too late as it washes onto his hand and streams down his arm to his elbow.  Here it collects then begins to drip.  Directly onto a gnoll!  The dirty creature flicks its ear in annoyance as a few drops strike its head and ear.  Finally, as a creature now known for patience, it looks up to glare at the source.  Its dark vision makes out the humanoid shape ten feet above.  Even as it snarls and reaches for its weapon John Play has let go of the aqueduct and edges and has begun to curl up to fall by the creatures.He lands and tumbles forward quickly.  As he stands up right he strikes the closest gnoll.  It stumbles back as its pack mates now draw weapons.  “What kind of rat is this?!?” growls the female gnoll.  “Stop him fools!  Stop him or I will report you to the Madam!”John Play is like a dervish fighter.  He never pauses or stops as he slaps one gnoll with his magical club then pulls free his second club.  He whispers something and the two clubs begin to glow gently.  “Come and get me pups.” He says in Common.  They do not understand the words but clearly do the meaning and four of the gnolls charge to get him even as the female begins to back away a ½ step at a time.  She knows no adventurer, however stupid , would do this.  This person is either crazy or extremely dangerous. Maybe very dangerous.One gnoll swings a battleaxe and just scuffs his leather magical armor.  The gnoll loses most of its upper teeth and robbed of its life two return hits later.  The gnolls do a good job of keeping him back from pursuit of the retreating master.Finally John clubs and hits his way through the four dogmen and begins to track the leader.  It is hard in the dark tunnels where his only sight is his magical dark vision lens.  He spots disruptions in the sandy wastes and silts left from past floods and begins to follow.  So intent on following her and learning more he fails to listen and be cautious.  He rushes along then suddenly notices the stone work is different here.  He stops and can not see everything around him.  He is on a bridge!Looking around he sees many chains hanging from the darkness above and they travel beyond the limits of his sight below.  He vaguely remembers this area.  These chains are weighted to go up and down to bring rocks and supply to different levels.  Then he hears it- laughter before him and behind him.  Gnolls.   Lots of gnolls and he has no where to go!</blockquote>

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